264. The Garden of p leaf ant Flowers. 



3. Lyfimachia lutea Jiliquofa Virginiana. The tree Primrofe of Virginia. 



Vnto what tribe or kindred I might referre this plant, I haue ftood long in fufpence, in 

 regard I make no mention of any other Lyjimachia in this work : left therefore it fhould 

 lofe all place, let me ranke it here next vnto the Dames Violets, although I confefle 

 it hath little affinity with them. The firft yeare of the fowing the feede it abideth 

 without any ftalke or flowers lying vpon the ground, with diuers long and narrow 

 pale greene leaues, fpread oftentimes round almoft like a Rofe, the largeft leaues being 

 outermoft, and very fmall in the middle : about May the next yeare the ftalke rifeth, 

 which will be in Summer of the height of a man, and of a ftrong bigge fize almoft to a 

 mans thumbe, round from the bottome to the middle, where it groweth crefted vp to 

 the toppe, into as many parts as there are branches of flowers, euery one hauing a fmall 

 leafe at the foote thereof : the flowers ftand in order one aboue another, round about 

 the tops of the ftalks, euery one vpon a fhort foot-ftalke, confifting of foure pale yellow 

 leaues, fmelling fomewhat like vnto a Primrofe, as the colour is alfo (which hath cau- 

 fed the name) and ftanding in a greene huske, which parteth it felfe at the toppe into 

 foure parts or leaues, and turne themfelues downewards, lying clofe to the ftalke : the 

 flower hath fome chiues in the middle, which being paft, there come in their places 

 long and cornered pods, fharpe pointed at the vpper end, and round belowe, opening 

 at the toppe when it is ripe into fiue parts, wherein is contained fmall brownim feed : 

 the roote is fomewhat great at the head, and wooddy, and branched forth diuerfly, 

 which perifheth after it hath borne feede. 



The Place. 



The two firft grow for the moft part on Hils and in Woods, but with vs 

 in Gardens onely. 



The laft, as may be well vnderftood by the title, came out of Virginia. 



The Time. 

 They flower in May, lune, and luly. 



The Names. 



The name of Hefperis is impofed by moft Herbarifts vpon the two firft 

 plants, although it is not certainly knowne to be the fame that Theophra- 

 ftus doth make mention of, in his fixth Booke and twenty fiue Chapter de 

 caujis plantarum : but becaufe this hath the like effects to fmell beft in the 

 euening, it is (as I faid) impofed vpon it. It is alfo called Viola Marina Ma- 

 tronalis, Hyemalis, Damafcena and Mufchatella : In Englifh, Dames Violets, 

 Queens Gilloflowers, and Winter Gilloflowers. 



The laft hath his Latine name in the title as is beft agreeing with it, and 

 for the Englifh, although it be too foolifh I confefle, yet it may pafle for 

 this time till a fitter be giuen, vnlefle you pleafe to follow the Latine, and 

 call it Virginia Loofe-ftrife. 



The Vertues. 



I neuer knew any among vs to vfe thefe kindes of Violets in Phyficke, al- 

 though by reafon of the fharpe biting tafte, Dodonaeus accounteth the ordi- 

 nary fort to be a kinde of Rocket, and faith it prouoketh fweating, and v- 

 rine : and others affirme it to cut, digeft, and cleanfe tough flegme. The 

 Virginian hath not beene vfed by any that I know, either inwardly or out- 

 wardly. 



CHAP. 



